The Banks County High School Leopards are entering into the Christmas break with a 9-2 overall record.
Last weekend the Leopards were in Demorest competing in Piedmont College’s second annual Christmas Invitational Tourney.
After a first round win over Stephens County followed by a fourth quarter shocker against Habersham, the Leopards picked up a second place spot in the tournament.
When the Leopards return from the holidays, the first challenger will be Riverside Military on Jan. 7. Banks hosts the boys only games with the JV team playing at 4 p.m. followed with the varsity game at 6 p.m.
The Wednesday games will begin the make or break portion of the Leopards’ season as the team prepares for the coming sub-region contests.
Coach Mike Ruth said that the team has the potential to win at least five games after the Christmas break. Last year the Leopards only picked up two games after Christmas and are hoping to not repeat that performance. According to Ruth, if the team can stay focused and on track, Banks can win a lot more than two games.
In the first round of the Piedmont College tourney, Banks faced Stephens County. The Leopards advanced to the final round after defeating Stephens 85-70.
Both teams got into double digits in the first quarter. Banks took a one-point lead to end the quarter 19-18. Amid the Stephens County surge in the second quarter, a technical on Banks and the Indians outscoring the Leopards, only three points separated the teams at the half.
Stephens had the advantage 42-39 entering into the third quarter, but a sweet lay-up from Kasey Hudgins started the quarter in Banks’ favor. Banks picked up 23 points over Stephens’ 13 to retake the lead 62-55.
In the final eight minutes, Stephens added 15 to the board and was fighting to survive as the Leopards continued to rack up another 23 points.
Possibly one of the greatest game moments came when junior Chase Armour passed on a chance to break a school record for most three-pointers in a single game. Armour made seven three-pointers during Friday’s game to tie the current record, but opted to pass the ball. Ruth said that after the game was over he found out Armour wanted to give a senior teammate, Ryan Griffin, the chance to break the record first, since Armour still has another year to play.
Despite not breaking the school record, Armour played an outstanding game on Friday. Leading the scorers with 41 points, Armour also picked up eight steals and 10 rebounds.
In the championship round of the tournament, Banks County ran out of gas.
Banks played a good ballgame for the first three quarters of Saturday’s contest against Habersham, but were hurt in the final eight minutes after giving up five turnovers in a row allowing Habersham to score off each. In the final quarter alone, Habersham got the ball from Banks seven times.
Ruth said that it was as simple as the guys did not have anything left to give.
“We ran out of gas,” said Ruth. “I went back and was watching the tape and you can see the guys were done.”
Ruth said that after Friday’s game where a lot of the starters remained in the game for long durations he should have subbed out more, but it is hard to sub out when things are real close and the guys are on fire.
At the half, Banks led 30-29. By the end of the third quarter, the Leopards had added another 20 points as Habersham picked up 17.
Without any steam left, Banks slipped and was out-scored 25-4 in the final eight minutes as Habersham claimed the tournament championship 71-24.
